|
You are in Grayce, a town in Southern Ustalav, and have been hanging around here for a day or so. It’s around lunchtime, and the only place you can find a meal is the Ash Inn. As you approach, you find a new notice on the board by the door.
Travelers heading to Caliphas seek a group of adventurers of able body and steadfast mind to accompany them onward from Grayce. See the innkeeper, Jakivi Rindix, for more details.
|
Travelers heading to Caliphas seek a group of adventurers of able body and steadfast mind to accompany them onward from Grayce. See the innkeeper, Jakivi Rindix, for more details.
"'Able body and steadfast mind'?" Abittus, a handsome, yet bookish man, who appears to have been wandering the streets now reads aloud. "I could give him one out of two, I suppose."
Looking at the gathering adventurers around him, Abittus continues, "I would very much like to get back to Absalom--after all those reports won't file themselves, I would gather. This caravan may provide just the transport I need to get to port. Shall we make inquiry of this innkeeper together?"
|
"I'm looking to go that way anyway. I would like to sign on too." says a rainkin in studded leather. He places his pack, shield and spear down as he speaks. His skin has a greenish cast to it and he has two very small tusks protruding. He is slighter than many of his kind and roguishly good-looking. "I'll have some of the stew as well please." Taldane does not seem to be his first language.
|
|
"All this talk of firearms sounds quite dangerous!" declares Abittus as he enters the scene. "I do hope that this journey will be a peaceful one and not marked by flying projectiles, explosions, or other forms of violence."
"Now, as for all of this discussion of exotic Alkenstar, I must admit that I am quite eager to hear more," he continues, drawing forth several sheets of parchment, an ink well, and a fresh quill. "I have never been there and I believe that some additional knowledge may help me process future reports from field agents in the area. I am a Pathfinder, after all, though my own field experience has been rather limited. What can you tell me of Alkenstar? Have you traveled there often? When were you last in the country? Oh, please, do not withhold any detail. One never knows what may be of import--or, at least, interest to a reader of the Chronicles or perhaps even a Venture-Captain. They rely heavily upon first-hand accounts, when possible, so I will do my best to transcribe whatever it is you wish to impart."
Abittus holds his quill with eager anticipation.
|
|
Jakivi explains that there have been some recent attacks on supply caravans traveling between Grayce and the port city of Caliphas. As such, the drivers of a caravan scheduled to leave this afternoon have asked Jakivi to arrange for some protection. The caravan is offering to provide whoever takes the job all meals for the three-day journey and a hefty sum upon their safe arrival in Caliphas.
((Make a perception check to Sense Motive))
|
|
A short, dark, half-elven woman, followed by a very large almost stylized black rabbit wanders in and plunks herself down at the table. "I hope this is where the Caravan Protection Squad is signing up. I just want to get to Caliphas in one piece."
She pulls out a very large carrot and half a cauliflower, then feeds them to the rabbit-creature. "Oh, I'm Tenuki. Aikawa Tenuki. You can call me Tey, or Nuki, just don't call me late for dinner." She grins widely and brushes vegetable bits off her hands. The rabbit puts its head in her lap and its ears flop over.
|
|
You sense that the offer of free food is genuine however, those that got above a 17, being Abittus and Omar so far, do sense that the innkeeper is holding something back. Those two (and any others that pass) may roll a Perception check to Seek.
|
|
Jakivi lowers his voice to a near whisper and shares a recent rumour that undead soldiers ambushed a similar caravan less than a week ago. He states that you seem more capable than the guards who set out with that caravan, but he looks worried nonetheless.
|
Kidron will warn his travel companions Dense fog often blankets the roads in southern Ustalav, making it hard to see who else may be lurking nearby. Both skeletons and zombies are known to wander the border roads, patrolling on behalf of the Whispering Tyrant and attacking any travelers they come across. As a survivor of Last Wall I will do what I can to destroy the foul undead.
|
|
Jakivi lowers his voice to a near whisper and shares a recent rumour that undead soldiers ambushed a similar caravan less than a week ago. He states that you seem more capable than the guards who set out with that caravan, but he looks worried nonetheless.
"Undead soldiers?!" Abittus cries out in concern, then shudders with an inked quill still in hand, resulting in a blotchy zig-zag across his paper.
"Oh, dear," he frets as he attempts to blot it away.
Resigned to the fact that this page is ruined, he looks up to Jakivi and asks, "I've noticed that you were holding a coin with the holy symbol of Iomedae, the Inheritor, in your hand. Does it serve as a protective token, perhaps? And, if so, do you know where one could obtain one of his own?"
|
|
The innkeepr shushes him a bit then says very quietly. [smaller]Please keep that quiet - but any temple should have one[/smaller]
He then directs you to the stable on the edge of town where the caravan is
getting ready to take off and wishes them safe travels.
It is hard for you to miss the eclectic group of travelers gathered at the stables. Two half-orcs joke with one another as they load supplies into two wagons, each with a team of jet-black horses. The half-orcs are nearly identical down to the stripes on their shirts, though one has her long black hair gathered into a ponytail and the other keeps his cropped short.
The sister greets you, introducing herself and her brother as Andri and Arek Graghol. She asks in a straightforward manner if Jakivi sent them to guard the caravan.
|
|
Excellent she says with a smile Welcome aboard
In addition to the drivers and goods, the caravan has three passengers. As the group prepares to leave, they introduce themselves in turn and climb into the coaches. First is Xanthus Shurgun, a half-orc in flowing academic robes indicative of his status as a faculty member at the University of Lepidstadt. He shares that he is traveling to Caliphas by way of the countryside so that he can better understand the agricultural conditions along the border of the Gravelands. Behind him is Eigil Jorgund, a stocky dwarf who tells you that he’s a farmer heading into Caliphas to establish relations with marketplace vendors, many of whom have lost business due to the perilous roads. Last is Kisaya Sitari, a tall Varisian woman dressed in a colorful patchwork skirt, its pattern seeming to have no beginning or end. She tells you that she’s a seamstress traveling to Caliphas in search of new fabrics and colors to improve her selection of adornments. Once you introduce themselves, the twins finish loading the cargo and the caravan sets off for Caliphas.
Day 1.
The first day passes largely uneventfully, and the travelers are happy to converse with you as they journey through the forest. As the sun starts to set, the drivers pull into a clearing to make camp for the night. As the members of the caravan begin cooking the evening meal and setting up camp, an argument arises between Xanthus the scholar and the farmer Eigil over which is more important: the knowledge of how to cultivate crops, or the physical skills of planting and harvesting. The argument starts good-naturedly but quickly heats up as each begins to feel that the other is dismissing the importance of their contributions.
As the argument escalates, you can stand by or step in to placate one or both of the travelers. If they decide not to intervene, Andri expresses to you in a hushed tone that if the argument continues, the sound could attract unwanted attention.
|
|
"My years of scholarly study have certainly been of great benefit to myself, affording me with insight and analytical tools to assess most any situation," Abittus mentions to Xanthus. "Clearly, you have found the same to be true when it comes to agriculture. Nevertheless, even having only recently begun more extensive field work, I have found that some skill and resolve are equally necessary if one is to see the fruits--so to speak--of one's knowledge implemented into practice."
|
|
The innkeepr shushes him a bit then says very quietly. [smaller]Please keep that quiet - but any temple should have one[/smaller]
He then directs you to the stable on the edge of town where the caravan is
getting ready to take off and wishes them safe travels.It is hard for you to miss the eclectic group of travelers gathered at the stables. Two half-orcs joke with one another as they load supplies into two wagons, each with a team of jet-black horses. The half-orcs are nearly identical down to the stripes on their shirts, though one has her long black hair gathered into a ponytail and the other keeps his cropped short.
The sister greets you, introducing herself and her brother as Andri and Arek Graghol. She asks in a straightforward manner if Jakivi sent them to guard the caravan.
At this stage, Natak would speak kindly to the horses with Animal Empathy. He would have then remarked "I have not seen so many of my kind since I left Matajani lands. What a pleasant surprise!"
|
|
"My eyes are not as well accustomed to darkness as several of you," Abittus notes, "And, quite frankly, I have little love of the darkness--would much rather be aside a nice roaring fire or the warm, soft glow of candlelight or the steady brightness of a lamp, really, for better reading and sight--but I will I have a torch and, thus, can take the first watch, even if it should give way to nightfall."
|
|
During the night:
--- Day 2 ---
The second day is drizzly and damp. You occasionally hear sounds in the woods, such as snapping twigs, wind through the leaves, and the faint groaning of trees—or perhaps creatures. The seamstress, Kisaya, startles the other travelers when she stops and asks them to be quiet and listen! There’s someone sobbing out there. Nobody else hears anything, and there’s nothing to find. Kisaya laughs off the incident, but she sticks close to one of you for the rest of the day and frequently glances over her shoulder.
After the group has stopped for a midday rest and traveled for a few more hours, an alarmed whinny comes from the pair of lead horses as the caravan comes to a dead stop. You find that the horses froze because the bridge over a small ravine ahead has been completely washed out. Arek shouts from his seat, asking you if there is anything you can do to help, as it’s all he and Andri can do to keep the horses from spooking and sprinting off into the forest.